Emergency car door opening tool



May 12, 1959 G. L'SMITH EMERGENCY DOOR OPENING TOOL Filed Oct. 23, 1956 15 ga, I

7 2,885,917 EMERGENCY CAR DOOR OPENING TOOL George L Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 23, 1956, Serial No. 617,841

3 Claims. (Cl. s1-3 This invention relates to emergency tools for use with automobiles of the type having latch release buttons and so-cal'led no-draft ventilators, for releasing the latch buttons thereof, when such cars are left with the doors or ventilators closed and latched, and aims particularly to provide a novel and effective tool especially adapted for use with automobiles having the so-called upsidedown no draf ventilators, introduced in recent models of General Motors cars of the wrap-around windshield type.

Towing services engaged by Metropolitan Police Departments are frequently called upon by the Police Department to move automobiles left parked on the streets in locked condition in violation of trafiic regulations.

For this purpose it is necessary to release the brakes or block the steering wheel of the vehicle to be moved, or

both, for which purpose it is the practice of such towing services to effect entry into the vehicle concerned in "whatever way may be possible, even to the extent of breaking a window or no draf ventilator pane for this purpose. Similar problems are met with by towing services called upon by individuals to move their stalled cars, which are frequently left at the location where the stalling occurred in closed and locked condition, or to open cars that have been locked with the keys left inside. While tools for efiecting entry into various types of cars have previously been known, such tools have been ineffective for effecting entry into cars of the wraparound windshield type having the so-called upside-down pendently, of a one-piece tool formed to facilitate its proper association with the car to be opened; a one-piece tool adapted to cooperate with the upper seal of the upside-down, no draft ventilator with a minimum of danger of tearing the same; a one-piece tool adapted to lift the latch button of the type of car designated by a direct linear pull despite the fact that the tool must be operated from a position out of line [with such direction of pull; a tool adapted in special circumstances to effect initial displacement of extremely low-lying latch buttons with a minimum of defacement of window moldings or the like; a tool adapted to be formed either lefthanded or right-handed for lifting the latches of the designated type of car door from the corresponding side of the car concerned; a tool adapted to so cooperate with the elon- ,gated upper seal of the so-called upside-down no-draft ventilator that a minimum number of sizes thereof may be employed for lifting latches of all sizes of cars of the I United States Patent i ice door and four-door models.

2,885,917; Patented May 12, 1959 type designated; and a tool embodying novel subsidiary features and sub-combinations of construction contributing to the realization of the foregoing objects.

In the accompanying drawings of an illustrative embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a tool according to the invention showing its cooperative relation with a door of the type described, indicated generally and diagrammatically in light lines.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the initial step in placing the tool in the operative position.

Fig. 3 is a detailed section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, a bit later.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tool taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the hook portion of the tool; r Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail of a portion of the handle shown in Figure 4; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional detail taken on the plane 7--7 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings of the illustrative embodiment, the emergency tool of the present invention is intended for use with vehicle doors, one form of which is shown in light lines in the drawings, which doors have a wing type, so-called upside-down no-draft ventilator 10 with a flexible sealing strip 11 at the top thereof, a window 12 adjacent said ventilator 10 and a headed latch release button 13 near the lower corner of said window 12 remote from said ventilator 10. The ventilator is termed an upside-down ventilator because in contrast to the ventilators on earlier models it has a relatively straight upper edge that extends several inches in a fore-and-aft direction, and a correspondingly longitudinally elongated flexible seal 11. The earlier forms of no-draft ventilators differed from this form in that they were usually generally triangular in shape with little, if any, extension of flexible sealing strip positioned inwardly of the ventilator for its upper edge to close against. A number of different makes and models of automobiles have included the so-called upside-down ventilator 10 in both the two- While the sizes of these cars vary considerably, the widths of the doors of the four-door models nearly all fall within a range such that the window 12 of the largest of such models ordinarily does not exceed in width the corresponding window plus the length of the inside seal 11 on smaller 4-door models. Similarly, in the two-door models, those having the widest doors as a rule have windows 12 that do not exceed the combined width of the window 12 and inside portion of the sealing strip 11 of the doors of the smaller twodoor models.

It has been found possible by the present invention to construct a single tool adapted for opening the right-hand doors of all such vehicles heretofore marketed of the four-door style; another singletool for opening the righthand doors of all such cars of the two-door model, and mirror images of such tools for opening the left-hand doors of the corresponding groups of cars. Thus, but four tools according to the present invention will enable authorized users thereof to effect entry into practically all automobiles of the types concerned, from whichever side I is accessible.

3 swinging said shaft means in said support, and for rotating said shaft means about its own axis. Arm means 21 1s, provided at the inner end 17 of said shaft means extending at substantially right angles to said shaft means to lie approximately parallel to the upper edge 12a of said Window 12 in use, said arm means being of a length to extend from said shaft means to a point substantially directly above said headed latch button 13, as shown in Fig. 1. Pull rod means 22 is provided extending downwardly from the end of said arm means 21 remote from said shaft means 15 in a substantially vertical direction and of a length to reach downwardly approximately to the level of said latch release button 13, as also shown in Fig. 1.

Hook means 25, best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, is off-set from the lower end of said pull rod means 22 and lies in a plane approximately perpendicular to said pull rod means, said hook means being shaped to engage under the head of the latch button 13. In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in the drawings, the off-set hook means 25 has flat top and bottom faces 25a, 25b (Figs. 5 and 3, respectively), that approach each other at the point of the hook 250, for the purpose hereinafter described. Preferably, the upper flat surface 25a is level throughout "its extent and the lower fiat surface 25b is beveled upwardly to meet it at the point of the hook 250. Also in the preferred embodiment as best shown in Fig. 5, the hook means 25 is provided with a flat inner face 25d, and this face and the upper face 25a meet to form a sharp edge 25f between them for engaging undernthe head of the latch release button, which edge obtains a strong grip on the button and prevents slippage of the hook therefrom.

In the preferred embodiment, as best shown in Fig. 4, the hook means 25 has its open side directed toward the window 12 positioned ready to engage the latch button 13 in the use of the tool. Also, as shown, the hook means 25 is preferably off-set to lie at the opposite side of the pull rod means 22 from which the arm means'21 extends.

As also shown in the drawings, the hook means 25, pull rod means 22, arm 21 and at least the inner end of the shaft 15 are all parts of a single continuous bent and shaped rod. This rod is of a size capable of being forced between the sealing strip 11 and adjacent structure and of displacing the sealing strip sufficiently to be supported in such position for pivotal motion of the shaft- 15 and rotation of said shaft on its own axis in said support.

In the form shown, the entire shaft means15 and the handle means 20 are bent from said single continuous 7 rod, affording a one-piece tool, said handle means being formed as a rectangular member having four sides 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, the latter terminating in a loop 20 that is bent tightly around the portion 20a close to its junction with the outer end 16 of the shaft means' 15. The handle, in the form shown, extends from the opposite side of the shaft 15 from which the arm 21 extends.

Referring again to the drawings, it Willbe perceived that the arm portion 21 and the pull rod portion '22 are contiguous and at approximately right angles to' each other and define a principal plane of the tool; that the hook portion 25 is disposed in a plane at approximately right angles to said principal plane and generally parallel to said arm portion 21 with said hook portion 25ropening toward one side of said principal plane; that said'shaft portion 15 is formed on the end of said arm '21 remote from said pull rod portion'22 and extends therefrom in a direction substantially normal to said principal plane; and that said handle portion 20 is disposed at the end I of said shaft or pivot portion 15 remote from said principal plane and at an angle to said shaft orpivot portion 15.

The dimensions found best designed to adapt the tool for use with the greatest range of four-door vehicles of the type described is one in which the pull rod portion 22 has an overall length of about 11 /2 inches,while the arm portion 21 has an overall length of about 21 /2 inches.

A convenient length for the shaft or pivot portion 15 is a little over 4 inches, and the handle portion in the form shown may have a size approximating four inches by 1% inches in length and width. The dimensions found best designed to adapt the tool for the greatest range of two-door Vehicles of the type defined are the same except that the arm portion 21, for said vehicles, is preferably about 4 inches longer.' In producing the tool, it has been found that'the most suitable material'for its construction is spring steel rod or wire slightly over /9" in diameter. A spring steel wire 0.177 inch in diameter has been found particularly satisfactory. In forming the tool from such wire, the bends at the points 16 and 17 and that at the point 21a connecting the arm 21 and pull rod portion 22 are preferably formed cold to avoid need for re-tempering. The other bends may also be formed cold, but in offsetting and forming the hook, it has been found satisfactory to heat the metal to facilitate the shaping and then quenching or retempering. Heat may also be applied for 20 facilitating bending of the portion 20] about the portion 20a, Fig. 6.

In use of the tool, the authorized operator merely places it against the outside of the car door in the position shown in Fig. 1 and observes the point indicated by the arrow 30 at which the inner end 17 of the shaft means 15 falls when the hook25 is aligned with the latch release button 13. The tool is then turned in the aforesaid principal plane until the curved portion of the hook 25 lies at the observed point 30. (Alternatively, if desired, the tool may initially be placed in this inverted position with the shaft 15 aligned with the button 13, in which case the rounded end of the hook will automatically be positioned at the right location with respect to the sealing strip 11). The outer side 25g of this hook is preferably left round when its upper and lower faces are flattened, and this provision enables the bend of the hook to be forced inwardly, displacing the flexible seal, which is usually of rubber or a similar elastic material, from its contact with the adjacent structure, usually the metal frame of the ventilator wing 10, without catching in or tearing the flexible material. When the hook has been pushed in, as indicated in Fig. 3, the principal plane of the tool is tipped upwardly toward the user and the handle portion is raised somewhat to move the tip .of the hook into a position out of engagement with the seal. A slight push against the end 21a of the-pull rod portion 22 then easily forces such pullv rod portion past the displaced seal 11 until the bend 21a is reachedat which point the tool is moved to position the arm 21 normal to the plane of the window 12, .after which a gentle push at 17 in the direction of the rod 21 forces it to pass through under the seal. During this last-mentioned motion of the tool, the weight of the arm 21 and hook 25 together with the weight of the shaft 15 and handle 20 tend to swing the tool about the axis of the arm 21, thus positioning the shaft 15 at an inclination from the point 30 that points it approximately toward the. latch release button 13. The handle portion is now slightly raised and the corner 17 and a portion of the shaft 15 are pushed through under the seal to position the tool in the position shown in Fig. 4. Due to the pre-observation of the point 30 at which to insert the tool, it will now be found that when the handle 20 is held so that the arm 21 lies approximately in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the hook 25 will lie in the proper position to be engaged under the head of the headed latch release button 13 by manipulation of the handle 20 to swing the tool about this point of support under the seal 11 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4.

In occasional instances, the latch release button 13 is of the handle 20 to initiate upward movement of it by a slight rocking motion of the tool.

When the hook 25 is firmly engaged under the head of the latch release button 13, pressure is applied to handle 20 in a direction to rotate shaft 15 on its own axis. This rotation raises the arm 21, as viewed in Fig. l, and applies a pulling force to the pull rod 22 that is substantially directly aligned with the direction of motion of the latch button. The latch button 13 is then easily raised, permitting the car door to be opened. Indeed, after one or two tries, the authorized user finds it possible with the present tool to insert the tool into the door and open the same with a total time expenditure of only two or three seconds.

If an authorized user should encounter a vehicle in which placing of the tool in front of the window in the position shown in Fig. 1 results in positioning of the point 17 at a point where it could not readily enter under the sealing strip 11, the construction of the tool enables it to be adapted to meet such condition. Thus, since the pull rod 22 is of considerable length, as is arm 21, when such condition is met with, it is only necessary to bend the tool slightly at the point 21a to increase the angle thereat to somewhat greater than a right angle if the point 17 falls short of a position 30 at which it can enter; or to reduce the angle at 21a to somewhat less than a right angle, if the point 17 falls-beyond a position at which the tool can readily enter under the seal. A very slight change in angle is suflicient to move the hook 25 an inch or so in either direction, and the change of angle is so slight that the pull on the latch button remains substantially in the direct alignment in which it is to be moved.

While there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all emobdiments that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included herein.

I claim:

1. An emergency tool for use with vehicle doors of the type having a wing type ventilator with a flexible sealing strip at the top thereof, a window adjacent said ventilator and a headed latch release button near the lower corner of said window remote from said ventilator, comprising, in combination, (a) shaft means for extending through the door of the vehicle under said sealing strip, said shaft means having an outer end to lie exteriorly of the door and an inner end to lie inwardly of the door when said shaft means is supported between said flexible sealing strip and adjacent structure, (b) handle means at the outer end of said shaft means for universally swinging said shaft means in such support and for rotating said shaft means about its own axis, (c) arm means at the inner end of said shaft means extending at substantially right angles to said shaft means to lie approximately parallel to the upper edge of said window in use, said arm means being of a length about equal to the full width of said winodw to extend from said shaft means to a point substantially directly above said headed latch button, (d) pull-rod means extending downwardly from the end of said arm means remote from said shaft means in a substantially vertical direction and of a length about equal to the full length of said window to reach downwardly to the level of said latch button, and (e) hook means oifset from the lower end of said pull-rod means and lying in a plane approximately perpendicular to said pull-rod means, said hook means being shaped to engage under the head of said latch button; said hook means, pull-rod means, arm means and shaft means all having cross-sections of a thickness permitting insertion thereof through the door above said wing type ventilator between said flexible seal and the adjacent structure, whereby on such insertion thereof said handle means may be manipulated to swing said hook means to engage under the head of said headed latch button and thereafter, to rotate said shaft means about its own axis to cause said hook means to lift said latch button by a direct vertical pull.

2. An emergency tool according to claim 1, said ofiset hook means having flat top and bottom surfaces approaching each other at the point of the hook, whereby said point may be employed to initiate lift of a low-lying headed latch button.

3. An emergency tool according to claim 1, said hook means lying at the opposite side of said pull-rod means from that from which said arm means extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,009 Wyscaver Ian. 7, 1936 2,350,250 Pietrobon May 30, 1944 2,732,739 Liss Jan. 31, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Manual of Locksmithing (1941) by S. A. McLean, pages 361 to 36 8, 

